Mandolin attachment for pianos



G. CLOETENS. MANDOLIN ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS. APPLICATION man mm. 1. 1 92:.

1,392,248. Patentedsepu 27,1921.

\ I 1,1,1 III 7 a oo Fig.5. 2

UNITEDSTATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

oneness CLOETENS, or nnns'snns, BELGIUM.

. MANDOLIN ATTACHMENT Ton PIANOS.

clare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as the whole of that portion of the hammer will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In stringed instruments played by means of hammers such as pianos, it has already been proposed to cover with a metal plate which strikes the strings, in order to obtain a sound resembling that of a plucked string. Each time this effect must be obtained it is necessary to secure said" metal, fitting on each of the hammers. '7

According to the present invention, it is possible to do away with this drawback and besides to attain a more beautiful effect of plucked strings by the use of a hard piece, arranged permanently on the sideof the hammers and adapted to come into contact with the strings only when the hammers have been moved laterally. Two embodiments of the inventionare shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a side view and Fig. 2a front view of a pianos hammer; Figs. 3 and 4: are end views of the hammer in two difli'erent positions.

Figs. 5 and 6 show respectively a side view and a front view of the hammer according to a second embodiment of the invention.

According to'the embodiment of Figs. 1

to 4, the hammer 1 with its felt head 2 is provided with a metal piece 3, screwed on the body 4 of the hammer. The piece3 is in the shape of a plate, the end of which is turned up so as to form a curved surface 5 arranged on the side of the head 2 and projecting beyond the surface of said head.

During the ordinary play of the instrument, the felt head 2 has with respect to the three strings I, II, and III corresponding to the note to be produced, the relative position shown in Fig. 3. When the player acts on'the pianissimopedal (left hand 7 Specification of Letters Yatent.

' Application filedMarch 7,

'ment of Fi felt head 2, in a portion of its surface which Patented Sept. 27, 192i 1921. Serial No. 450,499. I

pedal) of the instrument, assuming a grand piano is being played, all the hammers move in the direction of the arrow X in Fig. 3, which movement has for its object, in an ordinary piano, to make the hammer strike only two strings in the trebles, and only one string in the bass-notes. If the hammers are provided with the equipment according to the present invention, they take as a re sult of this movement the position shown in Fig. 4, in which the metal surface '5 is opposite to one of the strings. Said surface projecting beyond the surface of head 2, this string I will be struck alone by the piece 5 and the two other strings II and III only vibrate by sympathy, and by these means a beautiful effect of plucked string will be attained.

When itis required to adapt the inven- 1 tion to existing pianos in which there is only a very small space between the hammers, it will be better to use the arrangegs. 5 and 6. On the side of the does not normally come into contact with the strings, there is fixed a hard piece 6 provided with claws 7 which are forced into the felt. When the hammers are moved in the direction of the arrow X, (Fig. 6), the same result is attained as by the arrangement, previously described.

The hard pieces used. according to the present invention can receive any suitable shape, either fiat-or curved. The movement of the hammers by means of the pianissimo edal of the instrument is pointed out only ,hy way of example, for this movement could be produced by any other suitable means and that this movement could similarly be produced by movement in a direction contrary to that ofthe movement of the hammers when actuated by the pianissimo pedal. Thus the hard piece could also be arranged on the felt head between the portions of said head which normally strike the strings, so that said piece can pass between the strings during the ordinary play of the instrument.

What I claim is:

1. In a stringed instrument played by means of hammers means for producing the effect of plucked strings comprising hard pieces fixed on a' portion of the hammers which does not strike the strings durin the ordinary play, and projecting .beyon the surface of the hammers, so as to strike one is moved laterally, whereby the effect of 10 or more of the strings of each note when plucked strings is produced.

the hammers are moved laterally. In testimony whereof I affix my signature 2. In a stringed instrument played by 1n presence of two witnesses.

means of hammers the combination of a Y 1 hammer, and a hard piece fixed on the ham v GEORGES CLOETENS mer, sald piece prqectmg beyond the sur- W1tnes'ses:

face of the hammer for strlklng one ,or more GEORGES VANDER HAEYDEN,

of the strings of the note when the hammer LOMERID LEVER. 

